Shearing machine



Nov.. 17, 1931.

R. T- GALLAGHER 1,832,110

SHEARING MACHINE Filed Nov. 21, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 inventor Robzat T Galla. ghzR.

Attorney NOV. 17, 1931. R GALLAGHER 1,832,110

SHEARING MACHINE Filed Nov. 21, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I i w llllm 'IIIIIIIIIII' 7nventor RObZF-Zt T. Gallo.

gheR

Attorney H Nov. 17, 1931. R. T. GALLAGHER 1,832,110

SHEARING MACHINE Filed Nov. 21, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 /5 as 33 37 a 24- Q' H 20 3e I v 17' 1 B 4Z\ J 4O Fig 7nvonto7- Rq'barzt T Gallaghan' I "At to'rnzq Patented Nov. 17, 1231 ROBERT T. GALLAGHER, or woncnsrnn,

MAssAoHUsn'r'rs, AssIGivoa To MoaeAir CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, OF VJORCESTETJ, .FIASSACHUSETTS, A'CORlORATIONT OF MASSACHUSETTS srrnnnrive MAC INE "Application filed November 21; 1928. Serial'No. 320,950.

The present invention relates to that class of shearing machines which is employed for cutting up metal bars, billets,- and, other elonated products, while the same are in motion.

in one type of such shearing machines, the cooperating upper and lower shear blades, that are caused to approach each other in the performance of each out, are CZIIIlBCl' 111 a name or support that is capable of a limitedswinging movement in the dlrection of travel of the material, so as to allow the shear blades to follow along with said material for the duration of each cutting operation. Following each such cutting operation, andthe resumption by said blades of their normal separated rela-tion, the frame or support must; be returned to its initial stationary position, in readiness for the next cutting operation, and it is the object of the present invention to provide mechanism for insuringza prompt and unfailing return movement under all con ditions, with particular regard for theprevention of heavy blows or shocks,such as would cause damage to the machine, or produce rebound or inaccurate positioning ofthe swinging frame. The above and other objects are attained by the mechanism hereinafter fully described in connection with the accompanychine as seen in side elevation from the right handside of Fig.1. e

Like reference characters refer to l ke parts in the different figures.

The machine providesthe usual stationary base 1', hav ng spaced upright standards 2, 2

.thatprov-ide at their upper ends suitable bear- .ings for a rotatable shaft 3. "Said'shaft 3,

ust inwardly of its bear ngs in the standards 2, 2 rovides sJacedmatchinmeccentricor- ,P l e, P

tions4, 4, and betweensaid eccentric portions.

at the bottom of its stroke.

4, 4, said shaft 3 provides an intermediateeccentric portion 5 that is diametrically-opposed to the portions 4, .4. Suitable eccentric straps. 6, 6, surround the eccentrics 4, 4 and provide for the suspension therefrom of a frame 7 which, in consequence of-its mount ing on the shaft 3, is free to swing between the housing side or standards 2, 2.

Said frame 7, on the opposed inner surfaces of its vertical, sides, provldesways or guides 8 for the sliding movement ofga headzS), the latter having a pivotal connection 10 with a member 11 Whose upper portion is formed as an eccentric strap 12 in surrounding relation 'to the central eccentricv portion'fi of shaft 3. The head 9 carries anupper shear blade 13 adapted to cooperate with a lower shear blade 14 carried by the frame. 7. The

above described mechanism, of and by itself, forms no part of the present invention, be-

and 14 in the direction of the arrows A, Fig. 2, a single revolution of the shaft3 procures acut in the follow1ng-manner:

In the normal inoperative position of the parts shown in Fig. 2, the head 9 carrying upper blade 13 is at the top 1 ofits stroke, while'the frame 7 carrying lower blade 14 is tries 4, 4and 5 which carry the frame 7 and head 9, respectively, are one hundred and eighty degrees apart, thetwo shear blades 13 and 14 will startto approacheach other as soon as the shaft 3 begins to rotate. 7 Such approach carries. the bladesinto engagement wlth the moving stock, and as said blades cut into the stock, the carrying frame7, be-

, ing pivotally suspended from the shaft 8,

swings to the right in Fig. 2 with the movement of the-stoclnso that'the completion of the cut occurs-with the frame Tsubstantially displaced to the right from the position shown in Fig. 2,; whereby there is no substantial retardation of the travelling stock. I Sub- Since the eccenrevolution of shaft 3 which again separates the blades 13 and 1a, the frame 7, being no longer engaged with the travelling stock, is left free to swing back'to its normal posi tion shown in Fig. 2,and it is with this return swing of frame 7 that the present inven tion is particularly concerned.

In order to provide a force which will be operative to secure such return movement, the outward swing of frame 7, under the'in fluence of'the travelling stock, is made to compress a pair of springs 15, 15; as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a pair of brackets 16, 16, secured to the rear edges of the standards 2, 2, provide bearings for a'shaft 17 to which is secured a pair of'arms 18, 18, each connected to the rear side of frame 7 by a liult19. Other arms 20, 20,. secured to shaft 17 have pivotal connection with vertical rods 21, 21 passing upwardly through the brackets 16, 16 and each encircled by one of the springs 15. Each spring 15 bears at its lower end on the associated bracket 16, and its upper end is engaged by an adjustable collar 22 on the as sociated rod 21. As the frame 7 is swung outwardly, by the engagement of the shear knives 13 and 1 1 with the travelling stock,

the shaft 17, connected to said frame by arms 18, 18 and links 19, 19, rocks counterclockwise in Fig. 2 and thereby, through arms 20, draws the rods 21 downwardly, to compress the springs 15, 15' by downward movement of the collars 22, 22. Thus said springs are caused to store up energy, which, upon the completion of the cutting operation, is instantly available to procure the return'swing of the frame 7 to its normal position, as il lustrated in Fig. 2, wherethe rear side of said frame brings up against a pair of rollers 23, 23 provided by the base 1.

However, this return swing, as actuated by the springs 15, 15 is an uncontrolled movement and is likely to take place at such a speed as to impart a heavy blow on the mechanism, as well as to produce a rebound of the frame 7, so that its accurate registration with the normal rest position shown in Flg. 2 will be seriously disturbed. In order to eliminate these difiiculties, th1s invention imposes a definlte control on the speed or acceleration of said return swing, through the medium of r a dash pot mechanism,and to this end, the

shaft 17 is extended through the bracket 16 on one side, as shownat 17 Figs. 1 and 4e, and has secured thereto an arm 24. The angular movements of shaft 17 in response to the outward and return swings of the frame 7 27 is secured to the side ofthe adjacent stand- 7 are caused to produce rectilinear move- 4 ments of a sliding crosshead 25, through the medium of a link 26, pivotally connected to said crosshead and to the arm 24. I

As shown in Fig. 4, the dash pot cylinder ard 2, and a piston or plunger 28 within said cylinder has its rod 29 projected through a stufling box in the head of the cylinder and secured to the adjacent end of the sliding crosshead 25. An extension 29 of the rod 29, on the opposite side of'piston 28, operates as a guide to maintain the alinement of the parts. When the frame 7 swings forward, under the influence of the travelling stock, the piston 28 will travel freely toward the right in Fig. 41, owing to the fact that the wall of cylinder 27 provides an outlet port 30 at the right hand end for the free egress of the fluid, such as oil, with which the cylinder i's inaintained filled, as for instance from a supply pipe 31 that feeds a cylinder passage 32. An outwardly opening check valve 33 controls communication between the port 30 and a cylinder passage 34', the latter opening unrestrictedly to the left hand end of cylinder 27, so that the fluid displaced by the pistons right" hand movement passes freely to the cylinderspace on the left side of thepiston. On the return swing of frame 7 however, no such free and unrestricted transfer of the fluid from one side to the other of the piston, can take place;

the automatic closure of valve 33 prevents" any flow back through passage 34 and port 30, so that the only escape for the fluid, on this left hand movement of piston 28, is through a restricted opening 35 connecting the left hand end of cylinder 27 with the passage 32."

Said opening 35 is adjustable as to size by a needle valve 36; thus'the rate at which the frame 7. can travel on its'return swing is always under the control of the operator, because such rate is determined by the adj ust- .ment of the needle valve 36 to closely-regulate point on, until the piston arrives at a position corresponding to the rest position of frame 7,

the dash pot fluid seeps into port through a depression or groove 37*ofvery restricted area,thus to further slow down the frame just before it comes to a full stop. In this way,

the return swing of the frame is accomplishedv in the entire absence of any shock or rebound,

'and'its exact registration with the rest position is always assured.

Just as the frame reaches said rest position, at the completion of a single revolution of shaft 3, it is desirable, though not necessary, to apply a braking force on said shaft, in order to prevent any over-run or displacement that might disturb the full open position of the shear knives 13 and 14. To this end, as best shown in Fig. 5, a brake band '38 is arranged in surrounding relation to an enlargement 3 of shaft 3, said band being anchored at 39 and having its other end pivotally secured to an arm 40 that is carried by a rock shaft 41. Atthe commencement of gnu each cutting operatioma solenoid 42 is enere gized in any suitable way, in consequence of which an arm 43, connecting said rock shaft 41 with the movable member of said solenoid,

is raised, thereby to rock the shaft clockwise in Fig. 5 and thereby, through an arm 44, to release the brake band 38 from the closing or contracting force of a spring 45. This permits a single revolution ofthe shaft 3 to take place, with the brake band 38 free, but as soon as such single revolution is completed, the solenoid circuit is broken and thereupon the spring 45 becomes effective to draw the band 38 tight around the enlargement 8 of shaft 3, thereby to hold said shaft stationary until the next cut is initiated.

I claim,

1. In a shearing machine of the class described, a frame in which the shear blades are carried, said frame being mounted for movement in unison with the material during each cutting operation of said blades, an adjustably-mounted spring, linkage between said spring and said frame, whereby the force of said spring is effective to secure the return of said frame, after each cutting operation, to its initial position of rest, and a dash pot mechanism acting through said linkage to oppose the action of said spring on the return movement of said frame.

2. In a shearing machine, an actuating shaft, a knife-carrying frame hung from said shaft and adapted to swing in the direction of travel of the material during each cutting operation, as effected by a single revolution of said shaft, spring means to insure return of said frame to its initial position of rest after each cutting operation, a dash pot to control the speed of such return movement,

and braking means made operative on said shaft at the end of such return movement, to hold said shaft stationary until the next succeeding cut is initiated.

3. In a shearing machine, an actuating shaft, a blade-carrying frame having a pivotal mounting on said shaft to permit, at each cutting operation, a movement of the frame with the material and a return movement to rest position, a dash pot to control the speed of such return movement, and braking means made operative on said shaft at the end of such return movement, to hold said frame in rest position.

Dated this nineteenth day of November,

ROBERT T. GALLAGHER. 

